Silicon

• What other names is Silicon known by?
• What is Silicon?
• How does Silicon work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Dosing considerations for Silicon.

What other names is Silicon known by?

Acide Orthosilicique, Atomic number 14, Dioxyde de Silicium, Numéro Atomique 14, Orthosilicic Acid, Phytolithic Silica, Polysilicone-11, Si, Silica, Silica Hydride, Silice Hydride, Silicea, Silicio, Silicium, Silicium de Sodium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Silicate.

What is Silicon?

Silicon is a mineral. Silicon supplements are used as medicine.

Silicon is used for weak bones (osteoporosis), heart disease and stroke (cardiovascular disease), Alzheimer's disease, hair loss, and improving hair and nail quality. It is also used for improving skin healing; and for treating sprains and strains, as well as digestive system disorders.

Do not confuse silicon with silicone. Silicone is the name of a group of materials resembling plastic that contain silicon, oxygen, and other chemicals. Silicone is used to make breast implants, medical tubing, and a variety of other medical devices.

Possibly Effective for...

• Increasing bone strength when obtained from foods. Men and younger (pre-menopausal) women who get more silicon from their diet seem to have higher bone mineral density, which could reduce the risk of weak bones (osteoporosis). But higher silicon intake does not seem to benefit older (post-menopausal) women. These women tend to develop weak bones because their bodies continually break down bone. Silicon doesn't seem to stop the bone breakdown. It promotes only bone formation.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Heart disease.
• Alzheimer's disease.
• Sprains and strain.
• Digestion problems.
• Hair loss.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of silicon for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).